Breastfeeding of Very Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND: Breast milk is the preferred source of enteral nutrition for neonates and is particularly important for premature neonates because it promotes growth and development, and reduces the incidence of many diseases to which premature neonates are susceptible. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding among very preterm infants (VPIs) with a gestational age <32 weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of XiJing Hospital. METHODS: A retrospective record review was conducted to collect data on clinical characteristics and feeding methods of 235 VPIs born in XiJing Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023 and admitted to the NICU within 24 hours of birth. RESULTS: Of the 235 eligible VPIs, 177 (75.3%) were delivered by cesarean section, 102 (43.4%) did not receive any breast milk during their hospitalization, and 133 (56.6%) received a mixture of breast milk and formula. Compared with the cesarean-section group, the vaginal-delivery group was significantly more likely to breastfeed (12% vs. 0.3%; P=.004) and had a significantly higher median daily breast milk intake (5.81 vs. 0.17 mL/kg; P=.003) during hospitalization; however, the duration of parenteral nutrition did not differ significantly between groups. DISCUSSION: Overall, these results indicate that measures are required to increase breastfeeding among VPIs, particularly those born by cesarean section.